Ecological Theory

Question 1

Behavioural Adaptation

Answer 1

When an animal learns a new way to do something such as finding food, mates, den, or escaping from predators.
It has no genetic variability that is passed onto future offspring

Question 2

Genetic variability

Answer 2

Can be inherited by future offspring

Question 3

Natural Selection

Answer 3

When the environment puts pressures on individuals. It favours behavioural adaptations and genetics that improve an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce in that environment. Only genetic variability can be passed to future generations though.

Question 4

Evolution

Answer 4

A genetic adaptation is passed to the next generation when it improves the first generation’s ability to survive and reproduce. Only occurs if there is an inheritance of genes.

Question 5

What is a practical definition of “natural”?

Answer 5

Native

Natural ecosystems consist of species that have co-evolved mechanisms to enable ecological systems to be self-regulating

Question 6

What is a self-regulating ecological system?

Answer 6

A self-sustaining ecological process
Involves an ecological feedback loop
Populations are self-replacing
And it exhibits ecological resilience

Question 7

What is an ecological community?

Answer 7

The plants, animals and ecological processes in an area

Question 8

What are domains of attraction?

Answer 8

Alternative stable states of possible ecological communities

Question 9

What is stability of a domain of attraction?

Answer 9

How little it changes when stress is put on it

Question 10

What are the four views of nature?

Answer 10

Nature flat
Nature balanced
Nature anarchic
Nature resilient

Question 11

Describe the view of nature as flat

Answer 11

That a system will only be stable if the forces on it are equal

Question 12

Describe the view of nature as balanced

Answer 12

That if nature is disturbed, it will return to an equilibrium

Question 13

Desribe the view of nature as anarchic

Answer 13

That nature is fundamentally unstable

Question 14

Describe the view of nature as resilient

Answer 14

That nature has multiple stable states, and that if it is pushed, we will see abrupt and transforming change

Question 15

What are the four categories of ecosystem services?

Answer 15

Supporting
Provisioning
Cultural
Regulating

Question 16

What are four examples of “supporting” ecosystem services?

Answer 16

Soil formation
Photosynthesis
Biodiversity
Structural complexity

Question 17

What are six examples of “regulating” ecosystem services?

Answer 17

Pollination
Cool temperatures
Control flooding
Purifying water
Storing cabon
Cleanin air

Question 18

What are four examples of “provisioning” ecosystem services?

Answer 18

Food
Clean water
Fish
Wood

Question 19

What are four examples of “cultural” ecosystem services?

Answer 19

Stewardship
Aesthetic
Recreation
Education

Question 20

What is an ecosystem service?

Answer 20

What nature provides to humans

Question 21

What is the difference between resilience in engineering and in ecology?

Answer 21

Engineering: single stable state, and resilience is the time that it takes for it to return to an equilibrium
Ecology: there are multiple stable states, and resilience is its ability to absorb disturbance, reorganize and retain structure and function

Question 22

What is ecological resilience?

Answer 22

The capacity of a system to absorb disturbance and reorganize while undergoing change so as to still retain function, structure, identity and feedbacks

Question 23

What is a major factor that increases the resiliency of an ecosystem?

Answer 23

High biodiversity

Question 24

What is the management associated with nature flat view of nature?

Answer 24

that management can control the system if the correct level of use is discovered

Question 25

What is the management associated with nature balanced view of nature?

Answer 25

managers will manage for maximum sustainable yield

Question 26

What is the management associated with nature anarchic view of nature?

Answer 26

managers will focus on maintaining the status quo

Question 27

What is the management associated with nature resilient view of nature?

Answer 27

managers will understand unpredictable dynamics, and have adaptive management approaches

Question 28

What does adaptive management involve?

Answer 28

Learning by doing
Uses management as an experiment
Has experimental design with quantifiable objectives
Is not “trial and error”

Question 29

What is adaptive management?

Answer 29

A systematic approach for improving management by learning from management outcomes.
It parallels concepts for experimental design i.e. hypothesis testing

Question 30

What does adaptive management acknowledge?

Answer 30

That there is uncertainty about how ecological systems function
That there is uncertainty about how ecosystems will respond to management actions

Question 31

What are some problems that make people reluctant to admit uncertainty?

Answer 31

Perception that asserting certainty is more convincing
Think that acknowledging uncertainty will increase the likelihood that recommendations will be ignored
Acknowledgement of uncertain outcomes can be seen as invitation for confrontation resulting in inability to reach timely agreements

Question 32

What are the six steps in the cycle of adaptive management?

Answer 32

Assess the problem
Design a management strategy
Implement the strategy
Monitor the results of the implementation
Evaluate the results 
Adjust the strategy

And repeat

Question 33

What are DEMANDS

Answer 33

a framework for how to be effective in improving societal decisions about sustainable use
Data from Science
Ecological theory
Models
Adaptive maNagement
Decision making frameworks
Social context